Road scraper



March 27, 1928. J. B. BARTHOLOMEW ROAD SCRAPER Filed July 9. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 27, 1928. V 1,663,581

J. B. BARTHOLOMEWl ROAD scRAPER Filed July 9. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 &NN

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BY l itorne y March 27, 1928.-

J. B. BA RTHOLOMEW ROAD SCRAPER Filed July 9. 1921 4 Smets-Sheet 4 fill Patented Mar. 27, 1928. t

UNITED STATES PATENT fo-i-K'Ficiaiy JOHN B. BARTHOLOMEW, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO AVERYCOMYANY,

TEORIA, ILLINOIS', .A CORIEORATION OF ILLINOIS. l I

s noAD scimmia.

Abpiicaiion ined nays, iazi. `seriali `No.kiest/irs..

This invention relates to improvements in road scrapers. The ob]ects are to provide an automotive scraper Awhich ,twill/be simpier, more durable and readily manipulated than the mechanisms for this'pi'iipose`here;Ll l y y w A y f 2, the spindles at 9, l9 of the latter beingcarriedby seotionstliat extend upto and are toiore proposed.

Fig. 1 is a plan View'showingtlierelation? or the various parts ot the framework'oit he traction and `steeringmechanism and ofthe earth-engaging blades,A the engine "and much of the power transmitting and controlling apparatus being removed.

Fig. 2 is a *side*elevationofA` the shown `in `Fig. 1.

Fig. 3is aplan View indicating more.coni-fV pletely the entirety yofthe mechanism.' l

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing th'egapparatus complete.y

Fig. 5 is, a' side viewer soinefot 'the mission gearing detached.r

Fig. 6 isa longitudinal inain countershaift.

Figure 7fis a detail sectional .View through the joint between the `intermediate andy left' end sections ofthe scraper;

.Figure Sisi'a View similar to. Figure? through Athe oint between Lthe intermediate sind right hand. sections of the scraper; Y, Figure 9 is a detailsecton throughwthe connection between one ofthe scralieisec y i shown at 18d'. "The'standards 17 and 17` Figur-e 10 is a detail section or the coniiection between the Aforward end of a scraper tions and a suspension' yoke' bar;

suspension yoke and the main frame ;v

Figure 11 a detail'of the upper yI'ioxrtion f l l [and permitting the blade tov be` adjusted with resp'ectto inclination the horiof the suspension means of the scraper;

Figure 12 is a detail View of the driversA seat. f Y

The 'framework isniountedfnpon the tr tion Wheels 1, 2 and a steering wheeh.y

are arranged the elongated cross, bars 5, 5f#

the latter being somewhat Vshorter` than that at 6, 6 are longitiid-iiially arranged`` bars rigidly secured to those at 5, 5ft. and on lines somewhat outside the lines of the main sills 1i, f1, n y

The bars 5, 5 are also Connected at their ends by liars 7, 7a, each of which ha's'itsutor` ward end portion turned inward, as shown at 71. From them-turned or inclined parts i extension bars 8, 8a are carried forward first being in vertical 'longitudinal planes near tlioseolj the ground Wheel v2, fa`nd the Siiis new I 3 y y y,

The main frame having "the el`eineii`ts`just described is positioned Vin,horizontal 'planes conside"ijably` abovefth'e ax'esof thexjvheels 1,

securedto tlie'main frame.' 11 isla'4 trans extending down 'from the draft 11, the' land securely fastened of the `r others bei'iig'near the planes of thef wheel 1.2":`

heyare respectively braced'to vthe'inain ltraine byfbrace rods" as indicated at 15a and 16a. y 17 indicates a double drag bar,'having theftwo legs17a, 171 rigidly connected together at their forward 'ends and piyotally connected 'to the Kpost or'standard 14. The legs V'175, f1`7bfdiifeirge rearwardly and terrniinate in down curved*standards'lc, 17d.

18 is a concave-convex scraper bar; Itis "composed an upper part18tfandl a lower 'yshear-likepart`18",y detachably secured by bolts to the lower edgeportionof the part 18a, thedatt'er overlapping the shear as are seciiredto this overlapping part ,18a of.y n

the body 'ofthe blade. y19"represents per-r rear sui-,tace of the. section 18L of the' blade zontal. 'j

20 Aindicates second fdouble drag bar con'iposedof'the two bars` ZOffand 20", held rigidly together* at y their front ends and .orated clips rigidly secured at 19'a tothe ,pivotally connected at 15"L to the post V15.

These bars` or arms 20a, 2()by diyergrli rearward and "terminate inilown curved ystandards 120?, 20d. 21 represents a" second scraper hay` ing the body part 21 and. the shear part 21h; The standards 20?, QOflare lfastened at their 'lower ends tothe rear surface of the "lower portion of the scraperfbody 21a, and"` they are adjustahly secured at points 7near the upper part, by adjusting j clips/191,22

ing arnisyZQa ,and '22", brought together at their` front ends andfpivot-"ally`connected to2 the Vpost 16. Their rearyends` diverge" indicates a third hi'fu'rcateddrag bar -hav- 'y and terminate in downward curved standards 22, 22d. 23 indicates a third scraper element having the body part 23a and the shear at 23h. The standards 22c and 22d are secured to this scraper section in the way above described.

The scraper element 21 at its lefthand end overlaps the righthand end of the section 18. They are secured together by a horizontal pivot at 24 (see Figure 7). And the section 23 of the scraper is joined to that at 21 by a horizontal pivot at 25 (see Figure 8).

The suspension adjusting and lifting dcvices for the scraper sections are the following:

26 is a vertical rod pivotally connected at 26"L to the arm' 17l of the drag 17. This rod 26 is suspended from a. bell crank on a rock shaft 27 having the crank arm 28 and the crank arm 29. 30 is a link connecting the crank arm 29 with a hand lever 31 pivoted on the frame and adjustably locked by a detent and toothed rack at 32. v

The crank arm 28 is not rigidly connected to the suspension rod 26; the crank arm is pivotally connected to a collar 33, loosely surrounding rod 26. Between this collar and collars 34 and 35, tightly secured to the rod 26, are springs 36 and 37. The loose collar 33 connects the drag bar and scraper section 18 yieldingly when the lever 31 is drawn back, and the spring 36 can be utilized to exert yielding pressure on the scraper when lever 31 is moved forward.

38 is a suspension rod which at the lower end ispivotally connected to a bracket at 24, which carries the pivot 24 that joins the two scraper sections 18 and 21. Rod 38 is connected yieldingly to a manual lifting and adjusting lever 39 through a link 40 and a bell crank lever 41, by springs and connecting devices similar to those above described.

42 is a. suspension rod pivotally connected to the bracket 25a, which supports the pivot 25 that joins the scraper sections 21 'and 23. This rod is connected to a. set of manual lifting and adjusting parts comprising the lever 43, link 44, rock shaft 45 and crank arms 46 and 47, the latter having a loose collar which co-acts with upper and lower springs and collars on the rod 42 in the manner already described.

48 is a suspension rod pivotally connected to the upper part of the scraper section 23. This rod is also connected to a manual control system comprising the hand lever 49, the link 5() and the bell lever 51, the lower arm of which carries a loose collar on the rod 48, with springs and fixed collars above and below it. The bell lever 51 is fulcruined on a frame bar 6b that extends diagonally outward from frame bar 6a and passes across bar 7b.

It will be seen that peculiar control of the scraper sections is provided for. They can be held approximately rigidly in line, and at the same time will yield at their ends when necessary. The overlapping ends of two adjacent sections can rise or fall together, and provision is made for their conforming to surfaces of widely dilierent conformation.

The driver in his scat at 52 can readily reach the several controlling devices and quickly modify the positions of the scraper sections as demanded.

The scraper, as an entirety, extends across the machine on lines intersecting the vertical plane of the axes of the wheels, the righthand port-ion of the scraper extending laterally outward in front of the righthand traction wheel, and the lefthand part ex tending outward on lines behind the lefthand traction wheel. This is anV arrangement I have found greatly superior to that which has been commonly employed, this Y element of the mechanism ordinarily being positioned entirely in front of both wheels and having two truck wheels in front.

I have reduced the framework to the simple construction shown, and so distribute the load on the scraper upon the two main Wheels that I can employ a single simple steering wheel at 3 under the front end of the frame. This wheel at 3 has normally a castering action, its spindle 54 being held by a carrier 55 which inclinesV backward from the central vertical spindle part 56. The latter is mounted in a bearing bracket 57 and' at its upper end has a steeringgear wheel 58. With the latter engages a. pinion 59 mounted ona short eountershaft 6l) mounted in bracketarrns 61. The shaft 60 also has a bevel wheel 62, with which meshes the bevel pinion 63. This pinion is on the forward end of a shaft 64, which extends backward over the engine and is joined by a universal coupling at to a shaft 66 which inclines downward to a hand wheel 67 within immediate reach of the driver.

The machine is propelled lby the following` devices. 68 indicates a. gasoline engine or motor, as an entirety, secured to the forward part of the central extension of the frame. It is enclosed within the `casing or hood 69.

The prime shaft 70 of the engine transmits power to the prime countershaft 7l. The transmitting mechanism ybetween them may be of any preferred sort. I have shown a frietional driving disk 72 on the engine shaft as the prime transmitter element.

The power is transmitted to the two traction wheels 1, 2. They are loosely ournaled on spindles 9 secured to brackets 73a carried by the end parts 7, 7@L of the frame.

Each trac-tion wheel 1, 2 has a gear wheel 75 secured to it. And with these mesh pinions 76, 76. The pinions are at the outer cxlli tremities, laterally, of acounterLsha-ftsystem which comprises -fa central shaft section 77 and the outer sections 78, 7 8f. The central shaft section 77 is mounted ina sleeve' bearing 79, below, and secured to, the main longitudinal frame beams 4, 4, The sections 78, 78 are mounted in bearings 80 below, vand securedto, the bars 7, 7 ofthe laterallyexpanded part of the frame.

f Power is transmitted to the shaft sections 78, 7 8 and 77 from a large spur gear wheel 81. This is the master driving element of a compensating gear system comprising also the tvvo vertical bevel Wheels 82, 83. and the driving pinions on spindlesy 85 (in hub 86 of wheel 81). The pinions mesh with both of the bevels 82, 83 and rotate bodily with the master gear 81. The driven bevel wheel 83 is connected to a rotatable friction drum 87, which is keyed to the shaft section 78, but is loosely mounted on the end of the Vcentral shaftsection 77. The other compensaing bevel 82 is rigidly keyed to said central section. When Wheel 81 is being driven it will impart power to the two shaft sections 78 and 77 equally, but they can be rotated with variable speeds `corresponding to their resistances or loads.

Y The shaft section 78 is rigidly keyed to a friction drum 87, which has an inwardly elongated sleeve'hub 88 keyed .to the end of the central shaft section 77 Y, v

Themaster wheel 81 of the compensating gear is driven by pinion 89 on the Vvprime countershaft 71.` This countershaft is rotated from the engine shaft 70. As above stated, for some reasons I prefer to use friction transmission and mount on the countershaft 71 the slidable friction wheel90 engaging kperipherally,with the driving disk 72. The sliding of the driven disk 90 toward or from vthe center of the driver 72 (to vary speeds or -to reverse) is accomplishedby a bell lever 91,'actuated by a link 92 and a hand lever 93 Within reach of the driver,.thc lever farrying a detent engaging' segment rack 94.

The driving and driven disks 72 and 90V can be disconnected by a pivoted yoke 95, moved by an eccentric 96, a lever 97 and a spring 98.'v The lever `is moved by rod 99, extending to the rear ofthe frame andconneet-ed to lever 100 with a detent engaging segment 101. With these devices the operator can throw the power off entirely or can press the disk 72 more or less tightly against the driven disk 90. f Normally the friction elements will be held in contact with the desired pressure by the spring'98; y

The drums 87 87 are each provided with a frictionkstrap or band 102, and through the eiids ot' these straps, respectively, and through sleeves 103, reds 103 are passed with lock nuts 104.' Each rod 103 is! connected to a hand lever 105 at the rear end of the frame,vhaving a detent and rack at 1051.

Springs'lO o1'irods103/act to disengagethe i friction sti-aps from the drum.` i 1 Allof the devices for propelling, steering, controlling and reversingthe machinewill now be understood. It comprises devices by which it lcan be caused to move rapidly or slowly as required; others by which it can be caused to follow vpaths that are gradually curved; and others by which it can beturned on short, quick curves, or completely reversed in a small turning space. i

The drivel' being supported en a rearward extension of the main frame, and the front part of the structure being narrow and central, he is positioned Where he can observe the action of the Scrapers closely, can look overthefsurface of the ground from -the scrapers ahead to an indefinite distance,can

see `when serieus obstructions are approached, and can manipulatey the parts or steer the machine readily and quickly, according to 'varying requirements. are the scraper adjusting levers 31, 39, 43 and 4,9 immediately accessible to the driver in his scat,:but also the lever 105 andthe handpwheel 07 are close together., and their rods or shafts 6G and 103 are compactly ar# ranged close to the central longitudinal? lines of the machine, so that he can quickly move his Ihandsfrom the actuating'devices (lever 105 or wheel- 67) of'one of thev sets of steering mechanisms to` those` of Vthe other set. `When the levers 105 are adjusted so that thefriction bands are loose from the drums 87.V 87,` the machine-will move forward rectilinearly, the operatoi"s hands being removed from the handwvheelf67. VBut the sleeve holding the machine te a straight line, under some circumstances, `isinac-r cessible because of the castering capability of the wheel 3. Therefore. ordinarily, the driver has his hands upon `the Wheel 67, and holds the caster wheel 3 stationary for rectilineal travel. Il he desires to make slight turns on curves of long radii he readily causes such-turning by means of the wheel 67.`the shaft G4, and the wheel-actuating steeringfgear 56, 62 and 63. Hemaintains such control' of the machine while advancing along straight or approximately straight lines.` or on gradual curves," even though moving with considerable speed. If' he should remove hisv handsw'from the Wheel 67 the front Wheel 3 beeomesinstantly loose andfentircly unrestrained, and immediatelvcommencesto caster.y Hence, if at any time he wishes `'to turn sharply and bring theenti re Vmachine.around onfja short curve. even to the extent ofcomplete res versal, he drops the wheel 67, releasing his grip thereon, and in'in'iediately moves 1 his hands, and grasps the levers 105. If he deV` sires to turn sharply to the right he drawsA n 105 quickly `backward and tightens the right-handbrake band 102,

the riehthand lever Not only` thus stopping the rotation of the right-hand drum 87, the left-hand drum rotating freely, more or less, as controlled. Thereupon the engine causes rapid rotation of the left-hand traction wheel, but the right-hand wheel remains stationary or moves slowly under frictional retardation. The front ground wheel 3 acts at such time as a free caster wheel and follows, automatically, the rapid swing of the front end of the frame.

In this way curves in the path of travel can be obtained which are much sharper than those obtainable with the caster wheel. And if desired, the machine can be quickly and completely reversed by turning` half way round upon one traction wheel as a pivot. After thus turning the machine the operator takes his hands from the levers 105 and quickly grasps again the hand wheel G7, now having the mechanism again under con trol to cause its travel with stability along straight or approximately straight lines.

In case the operator should observe thatthe scraper part-s are becoming excessively loaded, or are about to engage a severe obstruction, he can instantly stop the machine by lever 93 and disconnect the friction wheels 72 and 90, immediately thereafter throwing the lever 105 to apply a braking force to both drruns 87, 87a.

The parts are so connected and mounted in relation to each other that when the mechanism is to be turned as an entirety to the right or to the left, the scraper element is easily turned because of its position in relation to the traction wheels and the other parts. Its center, longitudinally of itself, is approximately in a` vertical line intersecting the axis of the wheels and approximately in the vertical central longitudinal plane of the machine. This arrangement gives results which are materially different from those obtained with a machine of the ordinary sort inwhich the vertical plane of the scrape-r edge is entirely in front of or entirely in rear of the mai-n ground wheels.

That I claim is:

l. In an automotive road scraper machine, the combination of a frame having 'a longitudinally elongated element in the central vertical longitudinal planes of the machine and an elongated transverse element extending beyond the sides of said longitudinal element, traction wheels supporting said transverse frame element, wheeled guiding means constituting an additional support for the forward end of the longitudinally clon,- gated element of the frame, a scraper suspended beneath the frame and extending transversely thereof in an inclined direction, the ends of the scraper extending across the longitudinal vertical planes of the traction wheels with one end in advance of the traction wheel at that side of the machine and the other end in rear of the other traction wheel, and ,power devices on the fra-me connected to drive the tractionk wheels.

2. In a scraper mechanism, the combination of a frame having transversely aligned traction wheels at its opposite sides, a scraper extending diagonally beneath the frame from a position in rear `of one wheel to a position in front of the other wheel, and comprising a plurality of sections arranged in a longitudinal series, a plurality of draw bars connected to the frame at one end and each connected to one of the scraper sections at its other end by means permitting variation of the inclination of the scraper section to the draw bar, and a plurality of vertically adjusting means each connecting one of the scraper sections to the'frame.

3. Ina scraper mechanism, the combination of a wheeled frame, a scraper pivotally supported beneath the frame to rock vertically, a plurality of rods connected to the scraper and extending upward therefrom, a plurality of bell crank levers fulcrumed on the frame and each having one arm loosely surrounding one of said rods, an actuating lever connected to the `other arm of each bell crank, relatively stationary abutments on each rod above and below the bell crank arm, and coiled springs surrounding each rod between said abutments and the intermediate bell crank arm.

4C. In a scraper mechanism, the combination of a wheeled frame, a scraper arranged beneath the frame and pivotally connected thereto, said scraper comprising 'a lplurality of sections arranged in a ,longitudinal series and pivotally connected so that the end sections may be vibrated relative to an intermediate section, a rod extending upward from each end scraper section, bell cranks fulcrumed on the frame and each having one arm loosely engaging one of said rods, relatively stationary abutments on each rod, respectively, above and below the bell crank arm engaging the rod, coil springs surrounding each said rod between the bell crank arm and the abutmcnts on the rod, a lever connected to the other arm of each bell crank, and means on 'the frame connected with an intermediate scraper section for elevating said intermediate section.

5. In a road scraping mechanism, the combination with a wheeled supporting frame having a relatively narrowelongated Ipart, a. relatively widely extended transverse element, and traction wheels at the outer ends of the transverse frame element, of a supporting bar on the frame inclined to the path of the machine and positioned in front of the traction wheels and in longitudinal vertical planes between said wheels, a scraper extendingl as an entirety on inclined lines from points in front of one traction wheel to points in rear of the other traction wheel, a plurality of vertically Swinging carriers pivotally connected to said supporting bar and adjustaloly connected to the scraper to permit its upper edge to be adjusted to dilferent positions horizontally relative to its lower edge, means for fastening the carriers rigidly to the scraper, and suspending devices between the scraper and frame and exerting yielding downward pressure on the scraper.

6. In a scraper mechanism, thercoinbination of a wheeled supporting frame, a sectional scraper suspended beneath and ex tending in an inclined direction transversely of the frame, the right hand section of the scraper having its operative part in a ver tical plane extending at an angle that intersects the vertical plane of the body of the scraper. c

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

JOHN B. BARTHOLOMEW. 

